Paint striping device



United States Patent 3,359,590 PAINT STRIPING DEVICE Florindo J. Perilio, 5940 E. th St, Tucson, Ariz. 85711 Filed Sept. 13, 1966, Ser. No. 579,050 8 Claims. (Cl. 560) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A paint striping device in the form of a cap which has a plurality of spaced marking fluid dispensing rollers in communication with a container held in place by an axle which includes a guide pointer which is in use positioned adjacent to the material to be marked, and resilient members supporting the axle in position, said resilient members comprising either resilient jaws, a metal clip, or a resilient O-ring, or a magnetic retainer for the axle is disclosed.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 440,790, filed Mar. 18, 1965, and entitled, Paint Striping Device.

This invention relates to improvements in paint striping devices of the type wherein a plurality of striping wheels are mounted on an axle for rotatable movement about the axis thereof to apply spaced parallel colored strips on an underlying marking sheet.

Multiple wheel striping tools of the general type hereinabove mentioned are known in the prior art as exemplified by US. Patent 2,721,347 to Benkowski. Benkow'ski discloses a multiple wheel striping tool in which the axle is positioned in spaced bearing areas formed in separate substantially identical jaws having internal grooves. When the jaws are placed in abutting relation, a chamber is formed immediately adjacent the strapping wheels providing a paint receptacle in contact with the wheels. An internally threaded collar fits over the jaws and engages the threads on a paint bottle to hold the jaws together for passing paint from the bottle to the paint receptacle and consequently to the striping wheels. When it is desired to alter the configuration of the striping wheels, the collar is removed from around the jaws thereby freeing the jaws for lateral movement with respect to each other thereby freeing the axle and striping wheels. In order to increase or decrease the number of parallel stripes formed on the marking sheet, the striping wheels and spacers mounted on the axle must be removed therefrom and replaced with other striping wheels of different thickness in order to achieve the desired effect. It will accordingly be seen that the alteration of the striping wheel configuration necessitates a complete disassembly of the device of Benkowski with the attendant difficulties involved in dealing with paint coated members.

In accordance with the principles of the instant invention, a striping wheel assembly that can be removed without touching the striping wheels or spacers is provided. More specifically, the striping wheel assembly preferably includes an axle removably received in notches formed in the device, the axle including handle means thereon for grasping and removing the axle.

It is a primary object of the instant invention to provide an improved multiple wheel striping tool wherein multiple strips of pigment carrying material may be applied evenly, smoothly and expeditiously with a minimum of time, effort and difiiculty attending the interchanging of a striping wheel assembly to alter the number and spacing of the striping wheels.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a paint striping device which may be readily secured to a container for a pigment carrying flowable material, and utilized in conjunction therewith as a single entity.

Still another object of the instant invention is to provide a device of the character described wherein the number, spacing and width of the stripe or stripes to be applied may be readily varied by a simple interchange of components without soiling the fingers of the user.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide a multiple wheel striping tool wherein a multiplicity of relatively thin spacers and striping wheels of substantially identical thickness may be provided, so that the pattern, spacing, number and thickness of the stripes may be governed by the number and arrangement of spacers and striping wheels.

A still further object of the instant invention is to provide a multiple wheel striping tool wherein a striping wheel assembly may be easily removed from the device and placed in a solvent bath to remove pigments therefrom, thereby allowing the handling and rearrangement of the striping wheel and spacers without soiling the fingers of the user.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of one form of paint striping device constructed in accordance with the instant invention, shown as associated with a container for paint or the like, certain concealed portions being indicated in dotted lines, and certain portions being shown in section for clarity of illustration;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 of FIGURE 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the construction of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a constructional detail;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar toFIGURE 4 showing a modified form of constructional detail;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 77 of FIGURE 6 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of one of the spacers employed as a component of the instant invention;

FIGURE 9 is a side elevational view of a modified form of construction;

FIGURE 10 is a view taken at substantially right angles to FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a top plan view of the structure of FIGURES 9 and 10;

FIGURE 12 is an exploded side elevational view of another form of the paint striping device of the instant invention;

FIGURE 13 is a front elevational view of the cap structure of FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 14 is a top plan view of the cap structure of FIGURE 13;

FIGURE 15 is a front elevational view of another form of cap structure made in accordance with the principles of the instant invention;

FIGURE 16 is a side elevational view of the cap struc ture of FIGURE 15;

FIGURE 17 is a front elevational view of still another embodiment of the cap structure of the instant invention; and

FIGURE 18 is a side elevational View of the cap structure of FIGURE 17.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like reference characters designate like elements throughout the several views thereof, one form of the striping device constructed in accordance with the instant invention is 3 generally indicated at 40, and consists of a cap 21, having an angular depending flange 22 with internal serrations therein adapted to be snap fitted as at 23 over the bead 24 of a container 25 of any conventional type adaptedto receive a pigment carrying flowable material such as paint, ink or the like. Cap 21 has a central opening 26 therein and a pair of oppositely disposed lugs 27 on the opposite sides thereof. A saddle or support 28 is provided with an annular ring or sealing washer 29 adapted to seat over opening 26, and a pair of side plates 30 which terminate in triangular top portions 31, each of which is provided at its apex with a groove or notch 32 for the reception of a transversely extending, readily releasable rod or axle 33. It should be noted that axle 33 extends beyond the sides of support 28 a distance sufiicient to provide a handle for grasping and removing and/ or positioning axle 33 in notches 32. Although it is preferred that axle 33 be of a length that it may be grasped with both hands, it should be evident that it may extend from only one side of support 28.

Axle 33 carries illustratively a pair of spaced stripping wheels 34, each of which is provided with a central opening 35 through which the axle passes, and a roughened or serrated paint retaining surface 36. Between the wheels 34 are positioned one or more spacers 37, in accordance With the spacing of the stripes which it is desired to apply. All of the striping wheels and spacers are of substantially identical thickness, so that they may be readily interchanged to vary the number, width, spacing, and arrangement of the stripes as desired. These components may be readily and expeditiously stamped from sheet metal or the like, materially reducing the cost of the unit.

The spacers 37 are, as shown in FIGLURE 8, roughly triangular in configuration and provided with an opening 38 through which shaft or axle 33 extends. Each spacer also includes a depending arcuate flange 39, which extends downwardly between the side portions of members 30, to prevent rotation or slippage of the spacers. One end of axle 33 is offset in substantially perpendicular relation thereto as at 40, and is provided with a guide point 41.

The components are held in related assembly by means of a resilient band 42, which may be formed of neoprene, rubber, or the like, and which when the parts are in related assembly extends over axle 33 on opposite sides of saddle 28, and beneath lugs 27 which are, when in use positioned along an axis at right angles to the axis of the shaft or axle 33. The natural resiliency of the band serves to hold the axle, its associated wheels 34, and spacers 37 in related assembly on the saddle 28.

When it is desired to use the device of the instant invention, wheels 34 and spacers 37 are positioned on axle 33 in accordance with the arrangement of stripes to be painted. Axle 33 is placed in notches .32 followed by the securement of resilient band 42 beneath lugs 27 to secure axle 33 to support 28. The device is then inverted with guide 41 being drawn along a straight or curved edge when wheels 34 are rotatably moved along the marking surface.

When it is desired to change the arrangement of the stripes, it is necessary only to disconnect resilient band 42 from its associated flanges whereupon axle 33 may be removed from notches 32 merely by lifting up on the endsof axle 33. Wheels 34 and spacers 37 are then preferably washed with a suitable solvent to remove the pigment carrying material therefrom. By varying the arrangement and number of spacers 37 and striping wheels 34, the arrangement, thickness and spacing of the stripes may be varied as desired. Alternatively, a plurality of striping Wheel assemblies, by which is meant axle 33, Wheels 34 and spacers 37, of varying configuration, may be provided in order to vary the end result of the striping operation in a simple and expeditious manner.

FIGURE 4 discloses at 21a a modified form of cap substantially identical to the cap 21, but which is provided with lugs 27a of different configuration which extend downwardly at an incline as indicated in FIGURE 4, more securely to retain the band 42. FIGURE 6 discloses a further modified form of lug 27b carried by a lid 21b, this lug being arcuate in contour, as shown in FIGURE 7, and positioned slightly above the lower edge of the fiange 22b, which corresponds to the flange 22.

Still another modified form of the invention is disclosed in FIGURE 9. In this form of the invention a cap 50 corresponding in general to the cap 21 is internally screw threaded as at 51 and is adapted to seat over the threaded neck 52 of a receptacle 53 adapted to contain paint or the like. A saddle 54- Which includes a sealing washer 55 is adapted to seat over a central opening 56 in the cap 50. The saddle 54 includes the same triangular portions 56 as the foregoing modification, which include the same triangular upper portions 57 and identical notches 58 adapted for the reception of a shaft 59. Striping wheels 60 are positioned on shaft 59 as in the foregoing modification and are separated by identical spacers 61 of a configuration substantially identical to those of the spacers 37. In this modification a different arrangement, including two double striping wheels on opposite sides of and spaced from a single striping wheel, merely is illustrative if one of a wide variety of different possible arrangements. Shaft or axle 59 also includes a perpendicular offset portion 62 and a guide point 63. In this form of the invention, however, instead of the resilient O-ring 42,. a resilient metallic clip 65 is provided, having an apex 66, which seats in the notches 58, and overlies the shaft 59, there being a portion 66 on either side of saddie 56. The portions 66 extend downwardly to side plates 67, being cut away as at 68 to allow free play of the striping Wheel 60-, the portion 67 in turn tapering as at 69 to a point adjacent the bottom of cap 50, at which point inturned spring flanges 70 engage under the sides or edges of the cap 50 to retain the parts in related assembly. In the use and operation of this form of the device, the striping is effected in the identical manner previously described and removal of the striping wheels, spacers, and axle may be effected simply by releasing the engagement of the resilient flanges 70 with the sides of cap 50, and removing the assembly including the shaft 59 from its associated notches 66.

Referring now to FIGURES 12 to 14, inclusive, another embodiment of the paint striping device of the instant invention is shown generally at in conjunction with a receptacle 82 for receiving a pigment carrying flowable material as previously mentioned. Device 80 includes a cap designated generally at 84 comprised of a frustoconical annular flange 86 to be received in the upper open end of receptacle 82 with a bead 88 adapted to fit flush against the upper edge of receptacle 82 and act as a gasket to preclude leakage between receptacle 82 and cap 84. Cap 84 forms a central rectangular opening 90 communicating with an enlarged opening 91 providing a passageway between the upper and lower surfaces 92, 94 of cap 84. A pair of upstanding cars 96, 98 extend upwardly from surface 92 and have upwardly converging edges 100, 102 as shown best in FIGURE 12. Notches shown generally at 104, 106 are formed in the upper end of cars 96, 98 and include downwardly converging edges 108, 110 communicating witha cutout 112, 114 preferably configured as the major portion of a circle.

A striping wheel assembly shown generally at 116 includes a plurality of striping wheels 118 centrally apertured as at 120, one or more spacers 122 having a depending lug 124 and apertured as at 126 at the opposite end thereof, and an axle shown generally at 128. Axle 128 preferably includes a long leg 130, a perpendicularly olfset leg 132 having a sharpened point 134 for purposes similar to guide points 41, 63. Although leg is illustrated as substantially circular in cross-sectional COnfiguration in order to seat in cutouts 112, 114, it should be understood that the extremities of leg 130 and cutouts 112, 114 may be differently, although complementarily, configured. The central portion of axle 128 is preferably of circular cross-section such that striping wheels 118 will rotate therearound.

In the assembly of the device of the instant invention, striping wheels 118 and spacers 122 are threaded onto long leg 130 of axle 128 in the desired configuration. Long leg 130 is then depressed into notches 104, 106 biasing the upper ends of cars 96, 98 apart until leg 130 is received in cutouts 112, 114. Since ears 96, 98 are made of a slightly resilient material, it will be seen that axle 128 will be retained in cutouts 112, 114. Cap 84 is then secured in container 82 as by pressing flange 86 into the open upper end of receptacle 82 in a known manner. Paint striping device 80 then may be inverted and used in substantially the same manner as the previously discussed embodiments. It should be pointed out that guide point 134 is spaced further from upper surface 92 of cap 84 than are the terminal ends of ears 96, 98 so that guide point 134 may contact a line.

Referring now to FIGURES and 16, another embodiment of the paint striping device of the instant invention is illustrated generally at 180 with reference characters having common terminal and penultimate digits being used for purposes of brevity. In lieu of the resilient latching means of the embodiment of FIGURES 12 to 14, an elongated notch or slot 203, 205 is formed in the upper end of ears 196, 198 and is used in conjunction with magnetic holding means designated generally at 207, 209. Magnetic holding means 207, 209 include horseshoe-shaped magnets having an elongate notch 211, 213 aligned with similarly shaped notches 203, 205.

Since axle 128 is preferably made of a ferro-rnagnetic material, such as iron, steel or the like, it will readily be seen that long leg 130 thereof will be received in aligned pairs of notches 203, 211 and 205, 213 with the force of magnetic holding means 207, 209 acting to retain axle 128 in position. Since axle 128 is preferably not rotated during the use of the paint striping device of the instant invention, it will readily be seen that magnetic holding means 207, 209 need only hold axle 128 against the force of gravity.

Referring now to FIGURES 17 and 18, another embodiment of the paint striping device of the instant invention is illustrated generally at 280 with reference characters having common terminal and penultimate digits being used for purposes of brevity. In lieu of the resilient latching connection of the embodiments of FIG- URES 12 to 14, and the horseshoe-shaped magnetic holding means of the embodiment of FIGURES 15 and 16, an elongated notch or slot 303, 305 is formed in the upper end of ears 296, 298 with a magnetic plate 307, 309 being secured to the outer edge of cars 296, 298. Magnetic plates 307, 309 each form an elongate notch or slot 311,

.313 aligned with the associated notch on ears 296, 298.

It will readily be apparent that axle 128 is received in notches 303, 305, 311, 313 and retained therein in much the same manner as magnetic holding means 207, 209 act to retain axle 128 therein.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved paint striping device which accomplishes all of the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

Since many embodiments may be made of the instant inventive concept, and since many modifications may be made in the embodiments hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that the foregoing should be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A striping device comprising:

a cap, for securement to a receptacle containing a pigment carrying flowable material, having a central opening therethrough, the cap including a support, fixed to the cap, defining an open space overlying the central opening and having notches therein;

a striping wheel assembly including an axle, seated in the notches, extending across the open space beyond the support on at least one side thereof a distance sufiicient to provide a handle for grasping and removing the axle from the notches, said axle including a substantially straight first segment seated in the notches and a second segment, generally perpendicular to the first segment, having a point thereon acting as a guide for the striping device, said point being substantially coplanar with the lowermost portion of the striping wheel circumference when the device is in operative relation to an underlying surface;

a plurality of striping wheels, overlying the cen tral space, having central openings receiving the axle;

at least one spacer, between selected adjacent wheels, having an opening receiving the axle; and

means releasably securing the striping wheel assembly in the notches.

2. The striping device of claim 1 wherein the releasable holding means includes a resilient member.

3. The striping device of claim 2 wherein the support is made of a resilient material, at least around the notches, the notches describing a pair of converging edges and a cutout, communicating with the edges, being a major portion of the periphery of the axle.

4. The striping device of claim 2 wherein the resilient member includes a resilient O-ring looped over the axle and having its opposite end engaged under protuberances in the sides of thecap.

5. A striping device comprising:

a cap, for securement to a receptacle containing a pigment carrying flowable material, having a central opening therethrough, the cap including, a support, fixed with the cap, defining an open space overlying the central opening and having notches therein;

a striping wheel assembly including an axle, seated in the notches, extending across the open space beyond the support on at least one side thereof a distance sufficient to provide a handle for grasping and removing the axle from the notches;

a plurality of striping wheels, overlying the central space, having central openings receiving the axle;

at least one spacer, between selected adjacent wheels,

having an opening receiving the axle; and

a resilient member including an inverted U-shaped metallic clip having resilient sides and a central opening rearwardly of the striping wheel and inwardly extending flange on the sides engaging under the bottom of the cap releasably securing the striping wheel assembly in the notches.

6. A striping device comprising:

a cap, for securementto a receptacle containing a pigment carrying flowable material, having a central opening therethrough, the cap including a support, fixed with the cap, defining an open space overlying the central opening and having notches therein;

a striping wheel assembly including an axle, seated in the notches, extending across the open space beyond the support on at least one side thereof a distance suflicient to provide a handle for grasping and removing the axle from the notches;

a plurality of striping wheels, overlying the central space, having central openings receiving the axle;

at least one spacer, between selected adjacent wheels, having an opening receiving the axle; and

means including a magnetic member adjacent at least one of the notches and releasably securing the striping wheel assembly in the notches, said axle including a ferro-magnetic portion and said magnetic memberin the form of a cutout aligned and laterally coextensive with the notch.

7. The striping device of claim 6 wherein the magnetic member is a horseshoe magnet.

8. A striping device comprising:

a cap, for securement to a receptacle containing a pigment carrying flowable material, having a central opening therethrough, the cap including a support, fixed with the cap, defining an open space overlying the central opening and having notches therein;

a striping Wheel assembly including an axle, seated in the notches, extending across the open space beyond the support on at least one side thereof a distance sufiicient to provide a handle for grasping and removing the axle from the notches;

a plurality of striping wheels, overlying the central space, having central openings receiving the axle;

at least one spacer, between selected adjacent wheels, having an openingreceiving the axle;

and

a continuous annular resilient O-ring memberhaving generally diametrically opposite portions looped over the axle and having relatively right angularly disposed generally diametrically opposed portions engaged under protuberances on the sides of the cap releasably securing the striping wheel assembly in the notches.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1900 Bayetal 101-329 10/1910 Meyerhein 33-4l 9/1920 Engel et al 15571 X 10/1955 Benkowski 15571 5/1962 Schaich 15-572 8/1962 Slomon 15--571 12/1964 Dombrow 12O42.4

FOREIGN PATENTS 6/ 1923 Great Britain. 5/1948 Italy.

ROBERT W. MICHELL, PrimaryExaminer. 

1. A STRIPPING DEVICE COMPRISING: A CAP, FOR SECUREMENT TO A RECEPTACLE CONTAINING A PIGMENT CARRYING FLOWABLE MATERIAL, HAVING A CENTRAL OPENING THERETHROUGH, THE CAP INCLUDING A SUPPORT, FIXED TO THE CAP, DEFINING AN OPEN SPACE OVERLYING THE CENTRAL OPENING AND HAVING NOTCHES THEREIN; A STRIPING WHEEL ASSEMBLY INCLUDING AN AXLE, SEATED IN THE NOTCHES, EXTENDING ACROSS THE OPEN SPACE BEYOND THE SUPPORT ON AT LEAST ONE SIDE THEREOF A DISTANCE SUFFICIENT TO PROVIDE A HANDLE FOR GRASPING AND REMOVING THE AXLE FROM THE NOTCHES, SAID AXLE INCLUDING A SUSBTANTIALLY STRAIGHT FIRST SEGMENT SEATED IN THE NOTCHES AND A SECOND SEGMENT, GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE FIRST SEGMENT, HAVING A POINT THEREON ACTING AS A GUIDE FOR THE STRIPING DEVICE, SAID POINT BEING SUBSTANTIALLY COPLANAR WITH THE LOWERMOST PORTION OF THE STRIPPING WHEEL CIRCUMFERENCE WHEN THE DEVICE IS IN OPERATIVE RELATION TO AN UNDERLYING SURFACE; A PLURALITY OF STRIPING WHEELS, OVERLYING THE CENTRAL SPACE, HAVING CENTRAL OPENING RECEIVING THE AXLE; AT LEAST ONE SPACER, BETWEEN SELECTED ADJACENT WHEELS, HAVING AN OPENING RECEIVING THE AXLE; AND MEANS RELEASABLY SECURING THE STRIPING WHEEL ASSEMBLY IN THE NOTCHES. 